Ministry to help low-income families gain access to electricity

Dr Abdul Rahman (seated second left) and his family with Abang Johari (second right) and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (right) in a group photo at the Hari Raya open house.
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By Nigel Edgar

KUCHING, June 8: The Ministry of Utilities will come up with a solution soon to enable those from the lower-income group get their houses connected to the main electricity grid.

Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi revealed that some houses had access to the main power grid but were not connected because the house owners could not come up with the connection fee, which could total more than RM1,000, including external and internal wirings.

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Saying that his ministry would step in, he said, ā€œThis is to ensure that nobody will be left out from being connected to the main grid and for the state to achieve 100 per cent electricity connectivity by 2025,ā€ Dr Abdul Rahman told reporters at his Hari Raya open house at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, here, today.

Among his distinguished guests were Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Meanwhile, for others who want their houses connected to the main electricity grid, he advised them to work with their respective community leaders to ensure their applications would reach the ministry.

Dr Abdul Rahman said there had been cases where the applicants submitted their applications to the ministry a long time ago but remained unconnected to the main power grid. Then there were cases where the residents were keen but had no idea how to go about applying for it.

ā€œWe urge applicants to arrange their applications with their respective ketua kampung or ketua kaum so that their applications would reach the ministry. We, in the ministry, will instruct utility companies like Sesco to initiate the work immediately,ā€ he assured. ā€”Ā DayakDaily

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